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Dr. McNair's Profile
Ronald E. McNair, an African-American engineer, scientist and Challenger Astronaut, was born on October 12, 1950 in Lake City, South Carolina. McNair was the son of an auto mechanic. His perseverance in the face of poverty and prejudice led him to successful completion of his bachelor's degree, magna cum laude, in Physics from North Carolina A&T State University in 1971. Five years later he earned a Ph.D. in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Dr. McNair was nationally recognized for his work in the field of laser physics and received many honorary degrees, fellowships and commendations. His achievements were not limited to academia. He was a fifth-degree black belt in karate and was an accomplished saxophonist. Dr. McNair and his wife, Cheryl Moore, had two children, Reginald and Joy.
In 1978, Dr. McNair was selected for the NASA space program and was the second African-American to fly in space. His life ended tragically on January 28, 1986 when the Challenger space shuttle exploded and crashed into the ocean, taking the lives of six other astronauts.
McNair Program
The McNair Scholars program is dedicated to preserving Dr. McNair's legacy of scholarship and accomplishments. The UC Davis McNair Scholars Program is funded by the US Department of Education Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program as part of the Federal TRIO Program which includes the McNair Scholars Program, Student Support Services, Talent Search, Educational Opportunity Centers and Upward Bound.
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